You’ve always hidden your teeth in pictures. Smiling makes you feel self-conscious, so you avoid it when you can. Going to a cosmetic dentist can help ease your troubles, but you know that you would have to pay for most of the procedure out of your own pocket.
You’re not sure if you can afford something like that. You know that braces and dental implants will take a huge chunk out of your savings account.
It could be worth it to get your confidence back, and the cosmetic dentistry cost might not be as bad as you think. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of what you can expect to spend.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is the easiest and least expensive of the cosmetic dentistry procedures available. Your dentist will improve your self-confidence by using in-office products to bleach your teeth.
You can expect to spend anywhere around 500-650 dollars for the office visit. If you can’t afford to make an appointment with your dentist, you can also buy a take-home kit for about 100-400 dollars.
There are cheaper over-the-counter options available as well. You can use whitening toothpaste, strips, or rinses. It might not be as effective as going to the dentist, but it will work in a pinch.
Dental Implants
If you’re missing a few teeth or need to get some pulled, dental implants are a good way to fill in the gaps and give you a complete smile.
The dentist will insert a titanium post into the socket where the tooth once lived. As you recover from the surgery, your jawbone will begin to grow around the titanium implant. When you’re ready, the dentist will screw a crown on top of the metal rod.
Most implants can cost anywhere between 1,300 dollars and 3,000 depending on what your needs are.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells that are placed over your natural teeth. The catch is that the dentist will have to remove a small bit of your enamel to put the veneer on.
If you don’t mind that, the procedure is a good fix for chipped or discolored teeth. It can even cover gaps if need be. Getting them will cost about 1000- 2,500 per tooth.
Dental Crown
Dental crowns are small porcelain caps that go over a damaged tooth. In most cases, they can replace an entire decayed tooth if need be. They can restore the strength of a cracked tooth and prevent it from falling apart further.
They’re also a good solution for misshapen and discolored teeth. The procedure isn’t the cheapest cosmetic dentistry option, but it’s pretty close to it, depending on how many of them you need. They cost about 500-900 dollars per tooth.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is also pretty easy on the wallet. It shouldn’t be any more than 400 dollars per tooth. It’s also a simple procedure for the most part.
Your dentist will apply a tooth-colored resin to an existing tooth using a laser. Once it’s in place, the dental practitioner will shape and polish it so it has the same appearance as your natural teeth.
Dental bonding is a great option for chipped and mishappen teeth. It can fill in gaps too.
Inlays and Onlays
We also call Inlays and Onlays indirect fillings. Your dentist will sometimes use them instead of traditional crowns and fillings. Inlays sit in the middle of your tooth, and Onlays take care of certain points of the tooth.
The main difference between them and traditional fillings is that they are created in a lab. When the fillings come back, you’ll choose a cosmetic dentist to put them in place for you. You can expect to spend a little over 1000 dollars for every tooth.
Invisalign
The struggle that many adults have with getting braces is the visibility of them. They don’t want to seem unprofessional by giving a presentation with a mouth full of metal.
If you’re one of the many adults that feel this way, you can always opt for Invisalign. They are clear braces, so nobody will be able to tell you’re even wearing them.
Unlike traditional braces, they’re removable. That means you won’t have to alter your diet in favor of straightening your teeth, and they’re easy to keep clean.
The downside is that they’re much more expensive than the metal braces. Some people spend over 5,000 dollars on their treatment.
There’s also the chance that you won’t even be a good candidate for Invisalign. It’s not the best fix for those with super complex issues.
Dental Bridges
The last option on our list is dental bridges. It’s a bridge of crowns that can cover up a huge gap where teeth once were. This treatment won’t only improve the look of your smile. It can make it easier to talk and eat.
It can help you maintain a proper facial structure by limiting the bone loss that comes from missing teeth. It will also prevent your adjacent teeth from moving into the gaps. You may spend anywhere between 700 and 1,500 dollars.
Understanding the Cosmetic Dentistry Cost
If you want to improve your smile and boost your self-confidence, cosmetic dentistry has you covered. One of the many procedures that we’ve listed off can fill in gaps, strengthen weakened teeth, and lift the stains out of or cover up discolored teeth.
The catch is the price. We hope that you’re able to use this cosmetic dentistry cost guide to decide on the right treatment for your wallet. For more tips that will help you take care of your pearly whites, visit the Health section of our blog.
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